Dancers to get into the groove for ‘Cancer Slam’

A team of dancers will be at the bandstand, Carfax, Horsham to perform a fun and feisty new routine to shoppers, known as Race for Life’s ‘Cancer Slam’.

Capturing the energy and spirit of Race for Life, the Cancer Slam was created to bring the power and emotion of the women-only events to life.

And it embodies the passion and determination behind the rallying cry ‘Cancer, we’re coming to get you.’

Organisers hope the Cancer Slam will stop people in their tracks and motivate mums, grans, daughters, sisters and friends to sign-up for Race For Life on the spot.

The team will demonstrate the dance between 12 noon and 2pm. The Slam has ten easy moves which shoppers can quickly learn and join in with.

The dance will also be performed by thousands of women as part of the rousing warm-up at over 230 Race for Life events around the UK this summer.

A video showing how to do to dance steps is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBgmj0xbGiU so participants can practice ahead of their events.

Every hour more nearly five people are diagnosed with cancer in the South East, that’s approximately 42,400 a year.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of events which raises millions of pounds every year to help defeat cancer by funding life-saving research.

Hannah Ford, Race for Life event manager for Sussex, said: “We’re not professional dancers but we want to spread the word about the Cancer Slam and taking part in Race for Life. The Horsham Race for Life team, plus some local volunteers, will be doing our best to get into the groove!

“The Cancer Slam is a fun and eye-catching way to demonstrate the energy and emotion of Race for Life. It’s something which is so tangible at our events but difficult to put into words for people who have never taken part before,” she continued.

“We need mums, grans, daughters, sisters and friends to enter Race for Life today. And there’s a really important role for men as well. We need them to step forward as volunteers and play a key role in making the events happen.”

Although the number of people being diagnosed with cancer is going up - largely due to the fact that people are living longer and cancer is predominantly a disease of old age - the good news is that, thanks to research, survival rates have doubled in the past 40 years.

More people across the South East are now beating the disease than ever before.

By raising money through Race for Life, people in Sussex are helping Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists make advances in research which will help more men, women and children survive.

Hannah continued: “There are over 200 cancers and we won’t give up until we find cures for them all. It’s fighting talk and we mean every word we say: Cancer - Sussex is coming to get you!”

Participants come in all shapes, sizes, ages and levels of fitness. They are from different backgrounds and walks of life but they are united by their absolute determination to take on cancer and beat it.

Hannah added: “Race for Life is non-competitive. It doesn’t matter how fit or fast you are. Taking part is about joining together against a disease that affects all of us. You can walk the 5k route, run it, jog it or even dance your way round if you prefer. Please take the first step by signing up today.”

Cancer Research UK receives no Government funding for its ground-breaking research but with help from the people of the South East the charity intends to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

To enter Race for Life and learn how to do the ‘Cancer Slam’ visit www.raceforlife.org

For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1861 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook